Thanks to a grant from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission is taking the lead in bringing the Family Development Credential to the Greater Cincinnati region. The Family Development Credential (FDC) Program trains frontline workers in the techniques they need to achieve maximum success with families. Rather than focusing on family problems, it is designed to reorient human service practice to the family support approach where family strengths are emphasized and enhanced. FDC offers a research based, comprehensive curriculum in family support principles, which improves the ability of front line workers to help families as they set and reach their own goals. The first FDC credentials were issued by Cornell University’s School of Continuing Education in December 1997. To date, 4,500 front-line workers in New York State have earned the Cornell FDC; thousands more have earned the FDC through affiliated systems in 16 other states.

To achieve the family development credential, workers participate in 90-hours of instruction over several months, led by an FDC instructor. Students work with a trained portfolio advisor associated with the course, who provides guidance to complete required portfolio work. Students prepare a portfolio that contains responses to activities and questions and plan and carry out at least one skills practice for each of the 10 lessons in the curriculum.After successful completion of the program including a comprehensive test, participants receive college credit issued by a credentialing university.

There are several ways to participate in the Family Development movement. Become a trainer, a credentialed worker, or a portfolio advisor. Learn how to bring FDC to your organization by contacting Jennifer Belisle, NKCAC's Director of Community Services.